Cam operated magnetic switch



Feb. 28, 1967 w, BA ETAL CAM OPERATED MAGNETIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 31, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 11V VEZV T 085 James (465G155 Lem/is Fusseli, Jr. Merrill P Mines Herbert E. Grzbr Feb. 28, 1967 J w BABE ET AL 3,307,005

CAM OPERATED MAGNETIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 51, 1947 3'Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOZPS James ZU. Babb ism/is FusssZZ, Jr". 7 W Mar-rill 1? Mines w .NESSES HQrbQI-z 1 Grier Feb.. 28, 1967 w, B ET AL 3,307,005

CAM OPERATED MAGNETIC SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledDeo. 51, 1947 Fig. 5

INVEJVTUPS James (I): fiabb Z: @wz's ,F'uszsyelif 15. Marl-ill P Mines Hawker-61?. Grier WITNESSES United States Patent Ofifice 3,307,005 CAM OPERATED MAGNETIC SWITCH James W. Babb, Belmont, and Lewis Fussell, Jr., Concord, Mass., and Morrill P. Mims, Newton, Mass.;

Leal R. Mims, executrix of said Morrill P. Mims, de-

ceased; and Herbert E. Grier, Newton Center, Mass,

assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission Filed Dec. 31, 1947, Ser. No. 795,114 14 Claims. (Cl. 200153) This invention relates to an operating mechanism for electrically activated devices, and more particularly to a switch for remotely closing electrical circuits.

In the operation of many electrically activated devices remote control by suitable signals has proven to be beneficial and/or essential. Similarly, such control over the closing of electrical circuits by independently operating mechanical means has received wide-spread application.

In many types of remotely controlled electrical circuits it has been found desirable to employ electrically activated relays responsive to a predetermined signal to effect opening or closing of the desired circuits in a predetermined manner. However, commonly used relays when employed as above, present a number of shortcomings. In the types of electrical relay which draws a contactor arm into closing association with suitable contacts by rectilinear motion, the spacing between the contactor and the arm is gen erally small and the device is thussusceptible to arcing over if the main circuit to be closed is heavily charged, e.g. with 5000 volts. Rotary relays constructed prior to the present invention and employing peripheral cams present the same shortcoming. Increased spacing in such devices between the contacts and the movable arms generally results in chattering with accompanying sparking or other closing deficiencies.

It is thus seen to be an object of the present invention to provide a simply constructed circuit controlling device which provides positive action.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a circuit controlling device or switch which operates at constant torque applied thereto.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electrical relay device which prevents arcing or other undesirable circuit closure deficiencies.

A still further object of the present invention is to prO- vide circuit controlling means for simultaneously activating a plurality of circuits.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment taken together with the drawings made part of this specification in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevational view of a switch circuit controlling device constructed in accordance with principles herein expressed.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the same device taken on the line 22 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 shows two plan views of cams alternatively employed in the switch device showing further details thereof and indicating the manner of changing the time of closure of separate circuits.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of an alternate type of conductor ring for employment in combination with the control device of FIGURE 1 and the cam of FIGURE 3b.

3,307,005 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the ring shown in FIGURE 4 taken on the line 5-5 in said FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the first three figures, the controlling device is seen to comprise a base 10 and a support member 11 of a suitable insulating material such as a molded plastic, the said components providing a recess 12 in which the control elements are mounted. Within the recess 12 is a rotatable cam 13 mounted on a shaft 14 and made integral therewith by means of the locking pin 15. The shaft 14 is in turn, rotatable in the bearing 16 of the spring biased rotary solenoid of standard design and manufacture generically indicated by reference numeral 17 for example, such as described in co-pending US. patent application Serial No. 542,188 filed June 26, 1944.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a flanged conductor ring 18, egg. of brass, is rigidly mounted in a recessed portion of the support 11 and accommodates a plurality of pivotally movable contact members 19 which are operated by the rotatable member 13. The member 13 is provided with a plurality of carnming slots 20 (see FIGURE 3a) which cooperate with pins 21 of respective contact members 19 to move the same into engagement with the fixed contact 22 which is in the form of a tubular flanged stud mounted in the closure member 23. Said closure member 23 is of a suitable insulating material such as for example, lucite or the like and is fastened to the supporting assembly by means of the conductor ring 18 and screws 25. A plurality of conductors 24 are connected to the conductor ring 18 in any suitable manner or by suitable means such as by screws 25, which cooperate with suitable threaded recesses provided in said conductor ring.

The embodiment just described illustrates the adaptability of the structure to circuits requiring exacting characteristics of the components contained therein. It is readily apparent, for example, that it is a feature of the present invention that high voltage can be readily controlled because creepage paths and air paths are at a maximum. Furthermore, the inductance of the device, by reason of the features above defined, is minimized. Because of this, the device readily passes electrical pulses having extremely short rise times, i.e. of the order of fractions of a microsecond. Thus, in applications wherein the controlling device is employed to keep a low impedance circuit open until a predetermined time and thereafter permits the passage of one or more fast rising pulses to associated circuits, the electrical characteristics (e.g. impedance) of the complete system are not altered by the interposition of the device. In such an application, variations in the structure above described could be introduced such as for example, a cup-shaped conducting element would be fitted within insulating member 23 and suitably electrically associated with contact stud 22. The voltage path would extend from the lip of such a cup through contact stud 22 and arms 19 to conductor ring 18 and conductors 24.

It should be noted at this point that in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3a, the electrical circuits of which conductors 24 are a part are intended for simultaneous activation. However, if desired, the conductor ring 18 may be constructed as a plurality of conducting segments separated by insulating segments and individual activation of the many circuits involved may be accomplished in predetermined time relationship. Such a conductor ring is shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 and the 3 corresponding cam member 13 to accomplish such a result is shown in FIGURE 3b.

Contact members 19 are preferably of leaf spring construction of materials possessing good conducting properties. As may be seen in greater detail in FIGURE 2, each member comprises a rectangular arm 26 to which is attached by riveting or in a similar manner a leaf spring 27 bearing contact point 28. As previously mentioned, the members 19 are pivotally mounted in recesses provided in ring 18 by means of the pivot pins 29. Furthermore, the rotation of members 19 about the pivot points defined by pins 29 is accomplished by the action of the camming slots in member 13 in cooperation with pins 21 rigidly extending from arms 26.

Obviously, members 19 may be biased to a circuit opening or circuit closing position by suitable coil springs or the like not shown in the present embodiment. In this connection also, it might be noted that the rotary solenoid 17 shown is normally biased in a manner to prevent undesired closing of the circuits involved.

Turning now to FIGURE 3, cam member 13 is seen to comprise a disc of an insulating material, such as for example sheet fibre, in the plane face of which a plurality of arcuate camming slots 20 are cut to effect movement of members 19 through force exerted on pins 21. Slots 20 are shaped in such a manner that rotation of disc 13 at constant speed causes accelerated angular motion of contact members 19 about their respective pivot pins 29, but any other type of motion e.g. constant or decelerated, may be effected. Furthermore, by the employment of a cam surface in the manner described, the effective radius of action from pin 21 to pin 29 is constant and a constant torque may be applied to arms 19.

As pointed out hereinabove, the cam in FIGURE 3a is designed to produce simultaneous identical movement of all of the contact arms. Thus, slots 20 are all identical and similarly positioned with respect to the center of the disc. As an alternative embodiment, a time delay relationship between the various circuits represented by conductors 24 may be introduced. In the cam of FIGURE 3b, the slots 30 are provided with a curved portion 31 concentric with the center of the disc 13, so that initial rotation of the disc produces no motion in the respective member 19 cooperating with said slots. The remaining portion of the slots 30 are displaced radially with respect to slots 20 to permit the non-actuating initial rotation to occur and to permit ultimate closure of all of the respective circuits. All of the camming slots are so arranged that complete rotation of solenoid 17 closes the circuits corresponding to slots 30, but prior thereto closure of the circuits corresponding to slots 20 is accomplished, the additional rotation of member 13 only serving to exert increasing tension on spring 27 of contact members 19 cooperating with slots 20.

In such an alternative embodiment the employment of a conductor ring 18 somewhat as shown in FIGURES 4 and is necessary. This ring comprises a plurality of segments alternating conducting and nonconducting materials so that closure of one circuit by movement of contact point 28 into contact with button 22 (FIG. 1) does not effect closure of the remaining circuits. Such a ring may be formed in any well known way, the manner of assembly shown in said FIGURES 4 and 5 being employed as only one embodiment to illustrate the principles hereof. As shown in these figures, the ring comprises a plurality of shouldered conducting segments 40 each adapted to accommodate arms 19 in a current conducting manner, e.g. through the employment of pivot pins 29. The conducting segments 40 are mounted in suitable slots, milled or otherwise provided in the insulating material ring 41 and rigidly retained therein by means of screws 42. The alternative conductor as thus assembled is made integral with support member 11 by means of screws 43 substantially as in the case of the continuous conductor ring first described in connection with the embodiment adapted for simultaneous activation of a plurality of circuits. Screws 44 are accommodated in suitable threaded recesses in the shoulder portion of the conductor segments 40 for the purpose of attaching electrical conductors e.g. conductor 45 between the circuits to be operated and the control device.

The operation of the embodiments described is now apparent. Contact button 22 is attached for example, to a suitable source of voltage intended for application to the circuits represented by conductors 24. A voltage pulse is applied to solenoid 17 causing clockwise rotation thereof resulting in pivotal rotation of arms 19 and closure of the gap between contacts 28 and contact 22. When the device is spring biased as :above mentioned, cessation of the activating voltage supplied to solenoid 17 results in counterclockwise rotation of member 13 and opening of the circuits. Upon or after closing of the said gap application of the main voltage to the load circuits may be readily accomplished.

It is thus seen that what has been described are embodiments of a controlling device employing pivotally mounted contact arms actuated through arcuate camming surfaces by rotational movement of said surfaces.

Many widely different variations within the scope hereof may clearly suggest themselves to those skilled in the art based upon the teachings herein. For example, reversal of the mode of operation, i.e. from circuit closing to circuit opening may be readily accomplished, as may variations in the materials employed or the disposition of the elements. Stops may be incorporated for limiting the motion of the rotary elements and various other refinements incorporated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supporting member and provided with projecting portions, a rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation with a plurality of camming slots in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms and a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact with said fixed contact.

2. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supporting member and provided with projecting portions, a rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation with a plurality of arcuate camming slots in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to efiect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms and a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact with said fixed contact.

3. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supporting member and provided with projecting portions, a rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation with a plurality of identical arcuate camming slots in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms and a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, a rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact with said fixed contact.

4. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supporting-member and provided with projecting portions, a rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation with a plurality of identical camming slots symmetrically disposed in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms and a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all said contact arms, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and int-o contact with said fixed contact.

5. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supporting member and provided wtih projecting portions, a rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation with a plurality of identical arcuate camming slots symmetrically disposed in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms and a fixed contact support-ed in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact with said fixed contact.

6. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supportnig member and provided with projecting portions, a rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation with a plurality of relatively displaced camming slots in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect relative control of electrical circuits associated with respective contact arms and a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact with said fixed contact in predetermined time relationship.

7. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supporting member and provided with projecting portions, a rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation with a plurality of camming slots in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms, spring means biasing said rotatable member and a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact wtih said fixed contact.

8. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supporting member and provided with projecting portions, a magnetically actuated rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation wtih a plurality of camming slots in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms and a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact with said fixed contact.

9. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supporting member and provided with projecting portions, a magnetically actuated rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation with a plurality of camming slots in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms, spring means biasing said rotatable member to cause the return thereof to its initial position after activation and a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact with said fixed contact.

10. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination an insulating material supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supporting member and provided with projecting portions, a rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, with a plurality of camming slots in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms and a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact with said fixed contact.

11. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supporting member and electrically insulated from each other and provided with projecting portions, a rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation with a plurality of camming slots in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms, and a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact with said fixed contact.

12. The device of claim 11 further characterized by at least one of the said camming slots being adapted to permit the cooperating contact arms to remain at rest for a predetermined period of time after motion of the remaining arms has been initiated.

13. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess in association with said supporting member and electrically insulated from each other and provided with projecting portions, a rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation with a plurality of camming slots in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms, spring means biasing said rotatable member and a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to efiFect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact with said fixed contact.

14. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination a supporting member defining a recess, contact arms pivotally mounted in said recess inassociation with said supporting member and provided with projecting portions, a rotatable member having at least one plane surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation with a plurality of camming slots in the plane surface thereof cooperating with said projections to effect control of electrical circuits associated with said contact arms, a fixed contact supported in said recess and positioned to intercept the paths of all of said contact arms, and means for effecting rotation of said rotatable member, rotation of said rotatable member in one direction causing said camming slots to effect rotation of said contact arms about their respective pivot points and into contact with said fixed contact. I

No references cited.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

S. BOYD, M. E. WEAVER, H. J.-HOHAUSER,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. A CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A SUPPORTING MEMBER DEFINING A RECESS, CONTACT ARMS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID RECESS IN ASSOCIATION WITH SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND PROVIDED WITH PROJECTING PORTIONS, A ROTATABLE MEMBER HAVING AT LEAST ONE PLANE SURFACE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION WITH A PLURALITY OF CAMMING SLOTS IN THE PLANE SURFACE THEREOF COOPERATING WITH SAID PROJECTIONS TO EFFECT CONTROL OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CONTACT ARMS AND A FIXED CONTACT SUPPORTED IN SAID RECESS AND POSITIONED TO INTERCEPT THE PATHS OF ALL OF SAID CONTACT ARMS, ROTATION OF SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER IN ONE DIRECTION CAUSING SAID CAMMING SLOTS TO EFFECT ROTATION OF SAID CONTACT ARMS ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE PIVOT POINTS AND INTO CONTACT WITH SAID FIXED CONTACT. 